Double gated safety fire hydrant



Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STAT \ @EEFEQE DOUBLE GATED SAFETY FIREE-EYDRANT Elige J. Hollifield. J12, Shreveport, La, assignor ofone-tenth to Mike Eleehler, Shreveport, La.

2 Claims.

I'his invention relates to improvements in hydrants especially waterfire hydrants of the types commonly in use on public thoroughfares.

One of the types of hydrants now in use to which this inventionparticularly relates is that wherein means are provided for drainingwater entrapped in the hydrant casing after the closing of the hydrantvalve whereby freezing of the water and cracking of the casing duringcoldweather is precluded.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel valve systemfor use in the abovementioned type of hydrant whereby an especiallysecure and leak-proof closure of the hydrant feed chamber iseffectuated, whereby waste of water is eliminated and likelihood ofentrapment of water in the hydrant casing with the possibility offreezing and damaging the same is minimized.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a hydrant of theaforementioned type a novel system of coacting valves functioning in amanner such that one of the valves supplements or complements the other,whereby, in the event of leakage of one of the valves, the other valvesmay be replaced or repaired without requiring shutdown of the main linefeeding the hydrant.

An important advantage of the novel hydrant construction according tothis invention is that in the event repair of the hydrant is necessarythe entire hydrant super-structure may be removed from the hydrant basechamber connected to the feed line without necessitating discontinuanceof service in the feed line.

Noteworthy among the features of the novel hydrant according to thisinvention are its simplicity and ruggedness of construction, the formerassuring minimum cost of manufacture through reliance upon massproduction and the latter serving to minimize likelihood of expense ofrepair.

Other objects, advantages and features of the new and improved hydrantconstruction according to the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in this art during the course of the followingdescription.

Regarded in certain of its broader aspects the novel hydrant structureaccording to the present invention includes in a hydrant of the typecomprising a bottom chamber communicating with the fluid supply and anupper hydrant casing; the improved means for controlling fluid flow fromthe chamber into the casing comprising simultaneously oppositely movingprimary and secondary valves seating at opposite ends of an opening inthe chamber.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of thepresent invention a specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated willbe hereinafter described, it being clearly understood, however, that theillustrated embodiment, al-

though presently preferred, is provided solely by way of example of thepractice of this invention and not by way of limitation thereof exceptinsofar as the invention is recited in the subjoined claims.

Referring then to the drawing,

Figure 1 is substantially a vertical sectional View of. the presentlypreferred embodiment of this invention, parts of the same being brokenaway,

Fig. 2 is essentially a vertical sectional view of the bottom chamber ofthe hydrant illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the primary valve in closedposition, and

Fig. 3 is substantially a horizontal sectional view of Fig. 2 taken onthe line 3-3 thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be noted that the hydrantgenerally designated by the numeral it) comprises a bottom chambergenerally designated by the numeral II and an upper hydrant casinggenerally designated by the numeral l2, the chamber and easing beingcon-- nected by bolts 53 received in flanged edge portions M and 55 ofthe chamber and casing respec tively.

The bottom chamberll comprises an essentially cylindrical hollow member28 closed at one end ii and connectable to a fluid feed line through theinlet 22 formed integral with the member A l essentially as shown. Apartition 24 having a centrally located threaded opening therein carriesa valve seat member 25 having beveled valve seats 26 and 21 formed onopposite ends thereof. An upwardly extending centrally locatedcylindrical member 28 mounted on the bottom. 25 of the member 29slidingly holds a block 29' pressed upwardly by the spring 30 actingagainst the base of the block and the bottom 25 of the member 23substantially as shown. Guides 3i diametrically positioned on the topportions of a cylindrical member 28 and held essentially fixedly inplace by bolts 32 are received in guide-ways 33 formed in edge portionsof the block 23 whereby rotation of the block relative to thecylindrical member 28 is essen tially precluded. A block 29 is providedwith an axially extending opening 35 threaded to receive the screw 36carrying on one end thereof a valve member 3'! adapted to seat againstthe valve seat 26 of the valve member 25 hereinabove described. Thevalve 31 preferably is held in position upon the end of the screw 36 bynuts $8 engaging with threaded portions 39 of the screw end. A stem 40formed integral with the screw 3t extends axially therefrom essentiallyas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It is to be noted that the stem iii is ofirregular or at least not circular cross-sectional outline, being in theillustrated embodiment of the invention substantially square.

The hydrant housing generally designated by the numeral l2 comprises abarrel portion 50 terminating in a head wherein is rotatingly mounted avalve stem 52 having a threaded portion 53 engaging with a tapped sleeveportion 54 of the casing head. The stem 52 extends downwardly within thebarrel 50 of the casing and terminates in a socket 55 for receiving theirregularly shaped stem 40 of the screw 35 hereinabove described. Thesocket 55 also carries in the extreme end thereof the valve member 56held in place on the socket end by the nut 51 and adapted to seatagainst the valve seat 21 of the valve member 25 hereinabove described.It is especially to be noted that the threadings of the portion 53 ofthe stem 52 and of the screw 36 are in opposite directions, that is tosay, one is left hand and the other right hand, whereby rotation of thestem 52 causes the valve 55 to simultaneously move toward or away fromthe valve 3! depending upon the direction of rotation. Outlets 6i!communicate with the interior of the hydrant barrel 50 and an auxiliaryoutlet Bl closed by the valve 62 is provided for draining the barrelwhen the hydrant is not in use. It will be noted that the valve 62 isoperable by counter-clockwise rotative motion of the lever arm 63carried in the bracket 64 mounted on parts of the barrel casing andacting upon the connector rod 65. It will be seen that the collar 55during downward motion of the stem 52 will abut against and impartcounter-clockwise rotative motion to the lever arm, thereby opening thevalve and permitting water or other fluid within the barrel to drainthrough the outlet 62. As will be apparent to those skilled in this art,the valve 62 is open only upon such occasion as the valve 56 is closedand conversely. Hence fluid can not drain through the opening 6| exceptwhen the hydrant is not in normal use.

Having thus described the structural features of the novel hydrantaccording to this invention, its mode of operation and the advantagesattendant thereon will now be described. Assuming that initially thevalve 31 hereinafter called the primary valve is pressed against thevalve seat 26 of the valve member 25 substantially as shown in Fig. 2,and the valve 56 hereinafter referred to as a secondary valve is in likemanner pressed against the seat 21 of the valve member 25, the sequenceof operations attendant upon rotation of the stem 52 will be noted. Asthe stem is rotated, the valves move away from each other and from theseats, thereby permitting fluid to pass from the bottom chamber into thebarrel of the hydrant. The valve 52 closes upon up- .ward movement ofthe collar 66 due both to the action of gravity upon the connectormember 65 and also to the pressure of the fluid within the during use,it is unlikely that the wear will be such as to permit more than slightleakage and accordingly the leakage is prevented by the secondary valve.The wear on the secondary valve of course will be substantially lessthan the wear on the primary valve because the secondary valve is closedafter the primary valve. The primary valve in short insures majorclosure of communication between the bottom chamber and the hydrantcasing: the secondary valve completes the closure and prevents leakageof fluid into th casing with the possibility that the fluid may freezein the casing cracking the same.

In the event that the secondary valve requires repair or replacement,the bolts 13 can be un screwed after the valves have been closed and theentire hydrant super-structure lifted off, it being noted that thesocket 55 slidingly receives the irregular stem at of the screw 36. Atthis juncture it should be observed that any system of slidinglycoupling the upper stem 52 and the stem 50 can be employed, theinvention not being limited to the use of socket and irregular stem asillustrated. \Vhen the hydrant super-structure has been removed asmentioned, of course repairs can be made and the device thereafterassembled as before.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the novel hydrant accordingto this invention possesses both structural advantages and also permitseconomies of operation and repair, not possible with existing types ofhydrants.

It is to be understood of course that this invention is capable ofextended application and is not confined to the precise illustratedforms nor described construction and, therefore, such changes andmodifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of theinvention nor exceed the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the present invention, what it is desired tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hydrant comprising a casing within which are two chamberscommunicating through an opening formed in a common wall, the edges ofthe opening presenting valve seats; means for controlling fluid flowbetween the chambers comprising simultaneously oppositely moving firstand second valves seating at opposite ends of the opening; mountingmeans for one of said valves comprising a threaded spindle carrying thevalve, a block having a tapped opening wherein the spindle is received;and supporting means for holding said block in a manner permittinglimited yielding in the direction of valve motion, said supporting meanscomprising a sleeve wherein the block is freely slidably received, stopson the block engaging with slotted parts of the sleeve whereby slidingof the block with respect to the sleeve is limited between extremepositions, and.

means for pressing the block into one of its extreme positions.

2. A hydrant, comprising a casing within which are two chamberscommunicating through an opening formed in a common wall, the edges ofthe opening presenting valve seats, opposed valves simultaneouslyseating at opposite ends of the opening, means for moving the uppervalve downwardly upon its seat, a housing below the wall, a block insaid housing, means for limiting the upward movement of the block in thehousing, a spring below the block, a rod having a sliding connectionwith the upper valve operating means and rotated therewith, a threadedconnection between the lower end of the rod and the block, and a valvecarried by the rod below the lower valve seat.

ELIGE J. HOLLIFIELD, JR.

